New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-10
YACHTS TO BEAT THE THISTLE
WHAT AMERICA HAS TO CHOOSE FROM

There have been sever happy changes in yachting
affairs during tie last week. Only four days ago tho
fate of the Americas Cup hanging in the balance
but through the patriotism, pluck ard liberality
of General Paine and the skill and shrewdness OF
III ard Burgess America will have yacht that will
put to the test all the skill ana gold of Scot Briton
to defeat her. General Pains fnancier and Edward
Burgess as designer, have made exceedingly fortu
nate combination tor yacht building purposes. Each
boat that has been designed by Mr. Burgess has been
superior predecessor of the same class, and II the
ratio of Improvement in the new yacht is in keeping
with previous successes, General Paine will own
yacht of extraordinary speed
Before General Painc's decision made public
many OF the for saving the cup were lett
open until Mr. Burgess aud William Krebs, secretary
of the Americas Cup Committee, had seen the Thstles
! keel Mr. Krebs sails for Glasgow on Saturday, and
that the MayAower-Arrow race shas been practi-
cay declared off on account of the conditions OF the
race, Mr.. Burgess, who to have charge OF the
Boston sloup Will probably remain at home, and with
General Paine oversee carefully the construction OF
the bean pct" Boston built boats have been
dubbed. Perhaps Mr.. Krebss trip will be an unprof
able one James w. Bell, the representative OF the
syndicate that is building the Thistle has not been at
all liberal in giving to the public the Thistles dimen-
siOns and in fact all that known OF her is the meas
necessary to make the challenge tor the cup
complete. 1t is openly asserted by yachtsmen IN TINS
city and Boston that no Yankee will see the Thistles
keel il it is possible to prevent it, and 10 was said at
the New-Yofk Yacht Club last night: If the Thistle
is seen below her water line by Yankee, the man who
her will have to be as sharp as Yankees ever
were" But on the other hand others, more generous
say that inasmuch as George L. Watson, the designer
of the Thistle was treated with every courtesy when
he in this country last SUMNER bswill recprocate
and offer to Mr. Krebs the attention and kindness
| as was shown to him in this country.
The extreme width of beam in the Scotch yacht is
great divergence from the system OF yacht building
hitherto closely iollo ed by Brons. 1t consd
Ukahly of the Mayfowei and Puritan and II in other
directions there has been equal deviation from the
method OF naval architecture adopted by Englshnen
the Thistle, to be defeated will, in the opinion OF
many ,equre all of Mr.. BURGESS skill and General
| Panes patriotism.
THE GREAT TRIO OF FLEET RACERS.
The moment that challenge from a new yacht, that
was be built expressly to sail tor the Americas Cup
was limited at the members OF the Cup Committee and
other yaohtsmen, well those who take National
| pride in seeing anything American = yacht horse or
| man-victorous in . contest with competitors fiom
the sea- began to look around TOR boat to pit
against the newcomer. The Mayhower, comparatively
fresh from her last seasons victories over Lieutenant
Henn's cutter, Galatea, came first in the line as
defender of the prize, and following closely 1t were
| side By side came the Puritan and Priscilla. The
opinion that the first of this trio of swift yachts Is the
acme of success in yacht-budins is strong in the
minds of mauy who are considered competent judges.
The Boston bean-pots" earned their reputation by
defeating A. Ca.s Can6elds Priscilla The commodore
of the Seawanhaka Yacht Club does not intend that
Boston shall hold the palm in yachting II there is any
virtue in the skill Of New-York designers His sloop
is undergoing repairs that in the minds OF many
will make the Mayower, Puritan and General Panes
ne STOOD sail their fastest to hold their own in any
kind of weather. Inasmuch the Priscilla has re-
peatedly outsai.e the Puritan there only the
Mayilower as an acknowledged and known superior.
Fifteen inches have been added to the Prscas keel
her manmast has been increased to its original length
ana the main boom has also out several teet
These alterations will give her good many more
square feet of than she carried last year, AID
in a gale she will stand up steady as any OF them
With these changes Mr.. Garfield thinks that the May
dower will To led by the Priscilla the New York
Yacht Club course in any condition OF wind
The possibilities OF General Paincs as yet unnamed
Yacht will remain unknown until after launching In
the meantime the Mayhower will b. looked upon as the
best of her class Unless the Priscilla comes up to the
expectations of her name TOR General Pancs
thusiastic member of the NewYcrk Yacht Club adj
vses that the yacht be named Bull Thistle. because
the American weed of that name compares favoraDly
in prickly properties with its Scotch cousin.
All hopes Of the Atlantic making IN time fast yacht
are not dead. Her present owner; f. Z. Homan is
having n number of alterations made in Der that will
undoubtedly add her usefulness fast boat, and
her designer. Mr.. Ellsworth bias full charge Of them
His friends say that the Atlantic will surprise some of
the enemies Of the " ruleofthumb theory yet
"Figuratively speaking, said an Atlantic Club man
the ether day, :" there were too many cooks in the
broth that built the Atlantic. She was syndicate
boat and each contributor toward the cost OF building
her had any number of pet ideas that he wanted fol-
lowed The consequence Of the mixture of ideas was
fatal to the yacht"
HOW TO MEET THE THISTLE
The ideas of q Number Of well-known yachtsmen
the best meaus of meeting the Thistle in the new
Yacht does not prove fast enough, given below.
Ex-Coumodore James d. Smith, chairman of the
Americas CUP Committee. said "rhere a number
of rsclass yachts that will enter the list rs Compel
itors for the honor of defending tho Americas Cup
,ainst the Thistle. Notable among these yacht, are
D,;a la al
and Iitania All these yachts are drstclass in every
respect and will make n good fight to save the cup.
should like to yacht built in this city to sail
against the Thistle, and if there are any wealthy men
who have purses long enough to make the experiment
there are brains and intelligence equal to the task OF
designing and building ayacht that would sail any
where"
William Krcbs secretary of the Americas Cup Com
mttee said The Puritan and Priscilla Will both be
available IN case the Mayower does not return in time
to enter the trial races We have ony the dimensions
of the Thistle as yet and cannot tell what her shape
will be- A great deal depends on that, for che may
be vshaped or may bulge out after the style OF our
American sloops" ,
building % new yacht to sail with her"
".Need.'" he replied. [" is big word, and did not
say that there was no need OF building new yscnt
| That cannot determine un'ii her actiohs III the
water have been SEEM"
Edward NJ. Brown, acting secretary OF the New
York Yacht Club expressed himself rs follows: The
entire matter of defending the Americas Cup is but
subject OF surmsc until something more OF tho yachts
| measurements are obtained. One thing that we do
know is that tho Thistle is going 10 carry tremendous
amount of SAIL ana it her other qualities arc equal to
her sail carrying power she will DO bard boat to do
feat II Mr.. Krebs sees the Thistle he VIII be able TO
dctermine Immediately her sailing qualities what
we must have to compete with her. The Thistle has
been built to ousa the Maydower, and her designer
has tried to include all the better Qualities OF our own
Yachts The Englishmen getting nearer ana nearer
TO our style OF buildins each year. and the Thistle
seems 10 be pretty near our models. The Maynower,
Puritan and Priscilla are all good boats and some
think that no better can be built. That we cannot
determine. ho~ ever, until We try
BOSTON WILL NOT WANT THE CUP.
.No. don't think that Boston would want the cup,
even though a Boston yacht should save it tor us
again. The races sailed under the rules of the
New York Yacht Club, and the owners OF the Puritan
and Mayaower ar, both members OF that club. The